May 2022 Blessings - You’ve Been a Light in the Darkness!

blessings OPERATION BLESSING

MAY 2022

Stories of how YOU help the hurting around the world.

Light

YOU'VE BEEN A IN THE DARKNESS FOR UKRAINE JUST IN TIME FOR A MOTHER IN NEED! PAG E 6

A NEW LEASE ON LIFE IN COSTA RICA PA G E 1 0

THE LONG-AWAITED GIFT OF WATER!

PA G E 2 0

Happenings

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Catch up with the goings-on at Operation Blessing!

Just in Time for a Mother in Need!

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Ultrasound leads to smooth delivery in Peru

A New Lease on Life in Costa Rica

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You gave a new business to a struggling single mother

Inside this issue

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Meet Ukrainians Who You Are Helping You've Been a Light in the Darkness for Ukraine

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Burden Lifted for Kentucky Tornado Victims

You help disaster victims during the toughest times

Celebrating Mothers!

Thank you for blessing moms and their whole families

19 The Long-Awaited Gift of Water!

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A community gets a clean water system thanks to generous friends

operationblessing.org | 977 Centerville Turnpike, Virginia Beach, VA 23463 | (800) 730-2537 3

OPERATION BLESSING

HAPPENINGS UGANDA: Brian and other vulnerable children receive the nutrition they need thanks to friends like you and our partnership with Abide Family Center.

UNITED STATES: Thank you for reaching out to feed your neighbors in America! Through food distributions and meals for families struggling during disaster, you make a huge difference.

KENYA: Although drought and famine continue to threaten lives in Kenya, you are sending food, water backpacks and, most importantly, encouragement to sustain villagers in need.

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HONDURAS: Children in the community of La Cuchilla are so happy to have fresh, safe water readily available for the first time in their young lives, thanks to friends like you!

PHILIPPINES: Schools in the Philippines received new printers and supplies to help get kids back to learning after the pandemic because friends like you care.

PERU: Children in Latin America celebrate being safer and more empowered to say no to abuse, thanks to your support of Operation Blessing’s “Yo Digo No” (I Say No) program.

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Just in Time for a Mother in Need!

Ultrasound leads to smooth delivery in Peru

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ngie spent her days helping her mother sell chicken at a local market in Peru. But her life changed forever when she and Chemo found out they would be having a baby; they had no idea of the danger Angie would face!

As her pregnancy progressed, Angie was dedicated to keeping up with visits to the obstetrician.

For her first ultrasound, Angie

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PERU

“ Thanks to you all, my daughter is here with me and alive! ” had to travel a great distance as the equipment was not available at her local health center. Thankfully, all was well with the baby.

“The first time I had an ultrasound, my baby was only four weeks old. They only said everything was okay,” Angie recalled.

Time passed, and Angie was due for another ultrasound.

Sadly, Angie and Chemo simply couldn’t afford the exam.

Without an update on her baby’s health, Angie began to worry about her precious baby.

Thankfully, help came when Operation Blessing donors like you sent an ultrasound brigade to Angie’s local health center.

The program offers free ultrasound services to expecting mothers in need. It was a true blessing for Angie, quite possibly saving her Continued on page 8 7

Continued from page 7

life and her child’s!

“My doctor told me I needed an ultrasound, and that it was going to be my lucky day because Operation Blessing had brought an ultrasound. I was going to be able to see how my baby was, and for free, since I didn’t have money to get one. And I also wanted to stop having doubts if my baby was okay,” Angie told Operation Blessing staff.

After the ultrasound was complete, a doctor recommended she get another specialized one as he was concerned about the images he saw. “The doctor told me my baby didn’t have enough amniotic fluid and was small. She might be in danger. I was worried, and you all supported me,” Angie said.

Thanks to Operation Blessing partners, Angie’s ultrasound costs were taken care of—and doctors were able to catch the problem in time to provide her help. Not long after, Angie was admitted to the hospital because of how dangerous the situation could be. A day later, she safely gave birth to a beautiful baby girl whom she named Jaciel.

After Jaciel’s birth, Operation Blessing staff visited

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the young family to check on them and deliver a newborn baby kit to help them care for their precious little girl. Because of your generosity, Operation Blessing was able to help this mother detect the danger in time—and support her through the entire process.

Knowing that his daughter is well has meant so much to the brand-new dad, Chemo. “I am grateful for you all, because of the ultrasound that allowed us to see how our baby was.

I am so happy now that my daughter is okay. Thanks to you all, my daughter is here with me and alive.

Thank you for everything!”

The life-changing work you make possible through Operation Blessing brings hope to those in need around the world. Thank you for your heart to bless those less fortunate with the vital medical services they need to grow healthy and strong. May God bless you for your kindness!

You made a huge difference in the lives of Angie, Chemo, and their baby girl, Jaciel!

COSTA RICA

A NEW LEASE ON LIFE IN

Costa Rica O

ne lesson we’ve learned over the years is that giving a hand up makes an even bigger impact than giving a hand out. As the popular saying goes, “Give a person a fish, and they will eat for a day. Teach someone to fish...” Well, you get the point.

Along our journeys we’ve found many talented and hardworking people who just need a helping hand in order to change their lives—some

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training, a few supplies, a bit of encouragement and support.

This was the case with Graciela from Costa Rica.

As a single mother and sole provider for her 15-year-old son, Juan, Graciela needed a way to earn a living and keep him focused on school.

Graciela cleaned houses for a time, until her doctor advised her to stop due to the chronic pain she was suffering.

Then she tried baking from her home. Despite her talent, without the right tools and supplies she simply couldn’t earn enough. She was left feeling anxious and hopeless.

Juan shared with us how hard his mother works despite her pain. He explained sadly, “There is no food in the pantry, there is no food in the fridge; it is almost

empty. If I look at the freezer, there is no meat—there is nothing.”

They mostly survived on rice and often had to skip meals.

Then they found Operation Blessing! Thanks to friends like you, Graciela got the blessing she so badly needed.

First, you gave Graciela the necessary tools for her baking business, including a professional mixer, a scale, cookware, utensils, containers, and other essential baking supplies. But you didn’t stop there.

Thanks to you, Graciela received personalized business and financial training that will help her succeed. In addition, you supported her with top-notch signs and promotional stickers to help her advertise her business. And over the next months, she will receive ongoing support as she learns and develops in her growing endeavor.

She said, “This business is something that helps me and that I can do from home.” Now she’s able to make and market her beautiful homemade bread (called pan casero) and other tasty baked goods efficiently and effectively. Graciela is so grateful to you for this chance. Thank you for giving her and Juan a new lease on life!

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UKRAINE

You've Been a Light in the Darkness for Ukraine 12

T

he entire world watched in shock as the lives of innocent Ukrainian families were thrown into turmoil.

Women and children were forced to flee the country for their own safety when Ukraine was violently and aggressively invaded by Russia. In the face of such tragedy, you met this onslaught of violence with a powerful response of compassion and relief!

Operation Blessing and several of our sister organizations were

already strategically located on the ground in Ukraine and able to be among the first reaching out to victims of war—with lifesaving food, water, fuel, and generator power inside hard-hit communities.

Shortly after, thanks to your support, we positioned a team on the border with Poland to give Ukrainians warmth, comfort, encouragement, and vital supplies as they suddenly found themselves refugees in a foreign land. We pitched tents, organized packages, distributed aid, and helped equip shelters in partnership with churches and other organizations.

As Ukrainian refugees reached an unfamiliar country in search of safety—often in the middle of the night—our team greeted Continued on page 14

Meet Polina

Polina was filled with such

joy when Operation Blessing staff met her at the border in Poland with bubbles, toys, and a warm meal to cheer her on her long journey!

Continued on page 8

Continued from page 13

them with blankets, warm meals and drinks, a place to rest, hygiene items, and much support and encouragement. Most of the refugees were women, children, and the elderly, as men remained in Ukraine to fight for their country.

Over the following weeks, we continued to expand our outreach throughout Ukraine, Poland, and other nearby nations to meet this growing tragedy. And our wonderful, generous supporters like you truly stepped up with love and support.

Today we’d like to introduce you to a few of the people your love has reached.

Olena,

a pregnant mother with three children in tow, made the harrowing journey to safety in Poland. She had been getting her kids ready for school on that fateful day in February when she saw something streak pass her window. She quickly learned it was a Russian rocket, and fear and panic set in. She told us that she was horrified by the way the Russian military attacked civilian targets. Olena could hear bombing at a distance and her children cried. The whole family was in a constant state of fear and turmoil.

She said, “Of course it’s terrifying. It’s one thing to hear about this, another thing when you see it with your own eyes. We could not sleep during nights.” Olena also told us, “Over there only ruins are left. Hospitals, maternity hospitals, they shoot everywhere. In the villages also everything was destroyed.”

Eventually unable to take it anymore, they risked fleeing to Poland. There, your love met them with open arms. They were so thankful for the warmth, food, refreshment, and encouragement. Despite her fears, Olena stands in faith. She said, “I hope in the Lord and only rely on God because God can protect. Many Christian people pray, and we pray.”

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Hasmik,

a woman from the Kyiv area, fled Ukraine after hiding from the bombs for 10 days. She and her family had taken shelter in the basement of their apartment building, only leaving for food. But after the apartment’s administrative building was hit, they decided they must leave.

“I thought, at this moment, we would die.

Really,” she said. “People need peace. They can’t sleep. They have small kids. It’s awful. War is awful.”

Nadiezhda,

whose name means “hope,” is a young mother of two children, Ilia, 9, and Mariana, 5. She and her children also fled Ukraine. Nadiezhda’s husband stayed behind to fight in the war, so she is alone with her kids.

They also received aid and assistance at the Polish border, thanks to you.

“I put my hope in God, that He will give peace and protect our country,” Nadiezhda told Operation Blessing staff. “Thank you for your help, for prayers.

Thank you that you are welcoming us, this is very precious and important at a time like this.”

We send you our heartfelt thanks.

Please continue to keep the people of Ukraine in your prayers.

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Burden Lifted for Kentucky Tornado Victims

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fter an EF4 tornado struck Kathy’s town of Russellville, Kentucky, her home was left with serious damage. The storm hit as part of a string of deadly tornadoes that ravaged

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Kentucky and surrounding areas in December. Due to the building’s damaged ceilings and walls, as well as debris in her yard, single mother Kathy and her family needed help—and fast.

When Kathy learned that Operation Blessing teams were working in Russellville, she reached out for help with fixing the holes in her ceiling that had been created by the storm. Thanks to friends like you, not only did she receive

KENTUCKY

the assistance she needed to repair her roof, but volunteers also helped clean up her yard and install new sheetrock and insulation inside her home!

“I credit God for getting us through the storm aftermath and helping us get it all cleaned up,” said Kathy. “Like today—for Operation Blessing coming in and helping us redo walls and windows and all they’re helping us with. I credit God for all that.”

The aid came as a true

blessing for Kathy, who lives on a limited disability income. She shared that it was already difficult enough providing for her teenage twin girls and her niece, but with the added weight of home repairs, she didn’t know how she would make it. That’s when you stepped in to make a difference.

Because of you, volunteers worked on the sheetrock on her ceilings and walls, laid down new flooring in her Continued on page 18

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Operation “ For Blessing coming Continued from page 17

in and helping us redo walls and windows and all they’re helping us with, I credit God for all that.

“

~ Kathy

Continued from page 17

laundry room, and installed new windows—all steps on the road to recovery for Kathy and her family.

The facelift to her laundry room proved especially exciting for Kathy. Until then, she had been limited in how often she could do something as simple as wash clothes, often having to wait for the electrical sockets to dry from rain leaking through the roof.

She’s extremely thankful to God and Operation Blessing partners for reaching out to her and her family when they needed it most.

“Operation Blessing being here is really a blessing,” said Kathy. “It means so much to me. They will never know how much it means to me.”

Thank you for your heart to help victims of disaster in the U.S. and around the world.

The work you make possible through Operation Blessing brings relief and hope in their darkest times. May God bless you for your kindness and compassion!

M th ther ers! s!

CELEBRATING

During this month of

Mother’s Day,

we send our best wishes to all

the mothers, grandmothers, and mothers of the heart.

And we offer thanks to all our faithful supporters for blessing moms in need and helping them to create a better life for their families, both today and long into the future.

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MEXICO

THE LONG-AWAITED GIFT OF

T

W TER!

he people of Benito Juárez, a small community in Mexico, had gone without access to clean water for far too long.

For 9-year-old Gilberto and his little brothers, lack of safe water was simply a way of life.

Although the town had a water system, it was poorly

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designed, did not treat the water for safety, and didn’t reach everyone in the community. In addition, the decades-old storage tank was cracked and leaking.

Without the funds or technical knowledge to find a solution, the residents had only one other option—to drink water

from a river, without any means of ensuring it was safe.

Community members like Gilberto would also use the river for bathing and laundry, which meant the women and children responsible for taking care of the household chores had to spend a lot of time walking to the river and back with heavy buckets of water.

When Operation Blessing learned of this community’s need for clean water, we quickly developed an action

plan with our partners on the ground in Mexico. First, we visited the community to determine their exact needs, test its water source—which was positive for harmful bacteria—and decide the best way forward. The plan of action was to give Gilberto’s family and all the people of Benito Juárez a reliable, community-wide clean water system, thanks to special gifts from our generous friends like Continued on page 22

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Continued from page 21

you. Now, because of our donors’ compassion, the 338 residents of Benito Juárez have access to clean water right outside each of their 86 homes!

For the first part of this clean water project, a nearly 8,000-gallon water storage tank was built, and now spring water flows through a new conduction line to the tank. From the tank, the water is filtered and chlorinated to remove any contaminants and harmful bacteria, making it safe to drink. Then it continues to new faucets outside every home in the community, including Gilberto’s!

These faucets allow quick and easy access to clean water for every man, woman and child. A newly established and trained local water committee will oversee ongoing treatment of the water, ensuring it is safe to drink!

Thanks to our friends like you, the community of Benito Juárez also participated in WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) training throughout the project. More than 100 men, women and children participated. These training sessions covered topics such as the prevention of waterborne illnesses, healthy hygiene habits, good water care practices at home and in the community, and handwashing—all tools to help keep this community healthy well into the future.

We’re so grateful that partners like you care about reaching out and giving the gift of hope and health through clean water to communities in need.

God bless you for your kind hearts!

any ays M So ve W ati ive! e r C to G

acy Leg ing Giv

Stocks

IRA rs ve o l l o R

Did you know there are ways to help even more hurting people without affecting your monthly budget? We’d love to talk to you about some creative and exciting ways that you can give a meaningful gift.

Stocks | IRA Rollovers Legacy Giving | Gift Annuities And More!

Call 800-333-2373 Email PlannedGiving@OB.org

Visit ob.org/plannedgiving

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YOU ARE

BREAKING THE CYCLE OF SUFFERING

Thank you for working together with Operation Blessing to break the cycle of generational poverty for vulnerable children, families, and communities around the globe.

operationblessing.org

Let’s keep the blessings flowing and help even more people to break free from suffering, giving them hope for a brighter tomorrow.

ob.org/give

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(800) 730-2537